Basingstoke Festival 2018 is proud to bring you Shakespeares ‘The Winters Tale’ An intriguing mix of drama and comedy and tremendous entertainment for a Summer evening from this premier professional all-male company. Weather permitting, this will be in our garden. Bring your picnic to War Memorial Park on Friday 15 June 2018.

As the birthplace of Jane Austen, Basingstoke is set to mark the 200 anniversary of her death with celebrations, events and specially commissioned artworks throughout the borough in 2017.

Born in 1775, the celebrated author lived the first 25 years of her life in Steventon, in the Hampshire countryside, and was known to often frequent the nearest town of Basingstoke for dances. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Deputy Leader Cllr Terri Reid said:

“On the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, it is only right that the borough where she was born, should hold events and celebrations to highlight how her work still entertains and inspires people today.”

Local artist Adam Roud was commissioned to create the first statue of Jane Austen to be cast in Bronze.

The Statue was unveiled by the Countess of Portsmouth on the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death and is situated outside the Willis Museum in Market Place at the Top of the Town.

“Nothing could be better than a statue of Jane Austen hurrying across the Market Square to collect library books, do a little shopping or pick up her mother from Dr Lyford’s house – living the busy family life into which she fitted the writing that has made her world famous”